Data processing system including data transmission apparatus, data storage apparatus and client apparatus

ABSTRACT

In a data processing system, a document transmission apparatus capable of transmitting acquired data, a computer system including a data management unit for storing and managing data and a data storage unit for performing a process of causing to store the data transmitted from the document transmission apparatus in the data management unit, and an information processing terminal to be used by a user are connected through a network. In this system, the data storage unit comprises a storage destination acquisition unit adapted to acquire storage destination information of the data stored by the data management unit, from the data management unit, and a notification unit adapted to transmit, to the information processing terminal, a notification to which the storage destination information acquired by the storage destination acquisition unit has been added. Thus, it is possible to reduce a load on the network and improve security.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data processing system and a dataprocessing method. More specifically, the present invention relates to adata processing system which includes a data transmission apparatuscapable of transmitting acquired data, a data storage apparatus forstoring received data, an a client apparatus for acquiring the datastored in the data storage apparatus, a data storage method which isapplicable to the data storage apparatus in the data processing system,a recording medium which stores a program to achieve the data storagemethod, and the program itself.

2. Related Background Art

In a conventional data storage system which stores data of documents andimages, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of a document stored in a box(memory) of an apparatus such as a multifunction device or the likehaving a scan function and a facsimile reception function is directlynotified to a user by an electronic mail, or a URL of a documenttemporarily stored based on a document storage application up andrunning in a computer is notified to a user. Besides, for example, a URLof an image stored from a device such as a digital camera into a webserver is notified to a user by the web server through an electronicmail (e.g., International Publication No. WO 97/38510).

However, in the conventional data storage system described as above, inthe case where the document is stored in the box of the apparatus or thedocument is stored based on the document storage application, becausethe capacity of the box of the apparatus or the capacity of the documentstorage area for the document storage application is limited, it isnecessary for the user to extract the document stored in the box or totransfer the document to a document management application up andrunning in another computer, whereby traffic of a communication networkincreases.

Further, in the case where the image is stored in the web server, whenit is constructed that a web server option is added to the documentstorage application, it cannot cope with a case where there is no webserver. That is, when there is no web server, a useless mail having noURL is delivered to the user.

Furthermore, in the case where the image is stored in the web server,the mail is transmitted to the user stored in the web server or to thepartner designated by the stored user. That is, access authority of thedestination to which the image is stored is not considered.

Thus, the load on the communication network concerningtransmission/reception of the stored documents, the stored images andthe like is large, and security is weak, whereby there is still room forimprovement in the above related background art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a data processingsystem which eliminates such conventional problems as described above.

The feature of the present invention is to provide a data processingsystem which reduces a load on a communication network.

Moreover, the feature of the present invention is to provide a dataprocessing system which improves security.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data storage systemin the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a structural view of the software operating on a PC3 (personalcomputer 3) in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a module structural view of the document storage applicationin the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a table of login information of the documentstorage application to the document management application when thedocument is stored, in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a table of destination information of thedocument storage application when the document is stored, in theembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of transmitting a URL to auser by a mail (E-Mail) when the document is stored, in the embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be describedin detail with reference to the attached drawings. Here, it should benoted that the portion having the same function in the respectivedrawings is denoted by the same numeral, and the explanation of thelater-appeared portion will be omitted therefore.

(Structure Of Apparatus)

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a data storage systemaccording to the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, numeral 1 denotes amultifunction device which has a scanning function, a FAX receptionfunction and a network transmission/reception function, which includes afunction of transmitting data of documents and images (hereinafter, theabove data is simply called the “document” for the sake of convenience),captured by a scanning operation, received by the FAX reception, orreceived through a network, to the document storage application througha communication network. Numeral 2 denotes a PC1 (personal computer) onwhich the document management application used for storing and managingthe document sent from the multifunction device 1 operates. Numeral 3denotes a PC2 on which a WEB server operates when a WEB option is added.Numeral 4 denotes a PC3 on which the document storage applicationoperates. Numeral 5 denotes a PC4 (client PC) which receives a URL ofthe stored document transmitted from the document storage application,which is used for browsing and downloading that document by a user. Itshould be noted that plural multifunction devices and plural personalcomputers to be used by users can be connected on the network, and theplural multifunction devices can transmit data to the personal computershaving the document storage application and the plural client personalcomputers can browse the document.

The document storage application operating on the PC3 denoted by thenumeral 4 has the function of storing the document transmitted from themultifunction device 1 (101 in FIG. 1) in the document managementapplication operating on the PC1 (102 in FIG. 1), acquiring the URL ofthe stored document from the WEB server via the document managementapplication, acquiring the access authority to the stored document everyuser from the document management application (103 in FIG. 1), andtransmitting the URL to the only user holding the access authority by amail (E-mail) (104 in FIG. 1).

Numeral 41 in the PC3 shown in FIG. 1 denotes a CPU which executes adocument storage process by using the software shown in FIG. 2 and thedocument storage application shown in FIG. 3 or which executes aprocess, in the procedure shown in FIG. 6, of transmitting the URL ofthe stored document to the user by the mail. Numeral 42 in the PC3denotes a ROM (read only memory) in which the basic software such as aBIOS (Basic Input/Output System) or the like shown in FIG. 2 is stored.Numeral 43 in the PC3 denotes a RAM (random access memory) whichtemporarily loads the software shown in FIG. 2 or 3 from a hard disk(HD) 44 and is used to enable the CPU 41 to execute the software.Numeral 44 denotes the HD which stores an OS (operating system) shown inFIG. 2, the document storage application shown in FIG. 3, various datanecessary for processes, tables and the like. Numeral 45 in the PC3denotes an input device which is used to operate a UI (user interface)in a case of executing the software shown in FIG. 2 or 3. Numeral 46 inthe PC3 denotes a monitor which is used to display the UI, an executionstatus or the like of the software shown in FIG. 2 or 3. Numeral 47 inthe PC3 denotes a communication network I/F (interface) which is used toconnect the PC3 to a LAN.

In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the LAN is used as anexample of a communication network and a FTP (file transfer protocol) isused as a protocol of the data transfer. As the WEB option of thedocument management application, for example, a WEB server of IIS(Internet Information Server) of the Windows™ 2000 server is used, and aURL is created as linkage information of the document stored in thedocument management application. In the present embodiment, it isassumed that the document management application and the WEB option arerespectively operating on different servers. Sequential processes, to bedescribed later, such as an image data conversion process when thedocument of the document storage application is stored, the userauthentication to the document management application, a process ofstoring the document, and the like may be the processes similar to theprior art known to the person skilled in the art.

FIG. 2 is a structural view of the software operating on the PC3 in thepresent embodiment. An operating control of the hardware of each of thestructural members in the PC3 is performed by a BIOS 203 and an OS 202.A communication on the LAN is performed by use of, for example, TCP/IP(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), and the handling ofthat protocol is performed by the OS. A document storage application 201has functions of communicating with the multifunction device 1 andstoring the document.

FIG. 3 is a structural view of the document storage application 201. Aprotocol control division 303 performs the transmission/reception of thedocument between the document storage application 201 and themultifunction device 1 by using, for example, a protocol such as FTP. Adocument storage division 304 can store the document transferred fromthe protocol control division 303 in a desired storage destination ofthe document management application operating on the PC1. At that time,the image data conversion process is executed in accordance with thedestination when the document is stored in the document managementapplication.

At that time, the document storage division 304 acquires the URL of thestored document from the WEB server operating on the PC2 via thedocument management application and further acquires the accessauthority to the document for every user from the document managementapplication, and then creates a list of a mail of including the URL anda user who transmits the mail in accordance with the acquiredinformation. Thereby, the mail can be transmitted. An overall controldivision 302 manages the transference of the document from the protocolcontrol division 303 to the document storage division 304 and anoperating condition (success in reception, success in storage, error andthe like) of the protocol control division 303 or the document storagedivision 304 and performs a notification of error to the user when theerror occurs.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a table of login information which collectivelyholds the login information such as user IDs, passwords or the like usedin case of storing the document in the document management applicationoperating on the PC1 from the document storage application 201 andaddresses of the users used in transmitting the mail. The table of logininformation is previously held by the PC3 and is managed by the documentstorage application 201.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a table of destination information of thedocument storage application 201 when the document is stored in thedocument management application. This table includes destination names,paths of the storage destinations, addresses when transmitting the mail,and the protocol to be used. The document storage application 201creates a list of the user who transmits the URL on the basis of thetable of destination information, the table of login information shownin FIG. 4 and the access authority to the actually stored document everyuser. The table of destination information is previously held by the PC3and is managed by the document storage application 201. The accessauthority to the stored document for every user is previously held bythe PC1 and is managed by the document management application.

In the table of destination information shown in FIG. 5, an ID and apassword of the login user when the document is stored are associatedwith each other for every destination and an image data conversionprocess of the document for every destination is also associated withthe ID and the password. A setting module 301 shown in FIG. 3 can setwhether or not the destination information, the ID and the password ofthe login user, the image data conversion process and the URL aretransmitted by the mail, and can set which user is sent with theseinformation in case of transmitting the mail.

(Explanation Of Operation)

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the presentembodiment of transmitting the URL to the user having the accessauthority to the stored document only in a case that the WEB serverexists by checking existence of the WEB server by the document storageapplication 201 when the document is stored. This processing procedureis executed by loading the document storage application 201 in the RAM43 by the CPU 41 of the PC3 denoted by the numeral 4 shown in FIG. 1.Hereinafter, the document storage in a data storage system, thedelivering of the URL at a storage destination and the userauthentication according to the present embodiment will be explainedwith reference to FIG. 6.

Initially, in the CPU 41 of the PC3, a status of waiting for receptionof the document from the multifunction device 1 is kept in a step S51.Here, when the CPU 41 receives the document, a flow advances to a stepS52, where an ordinary document storage process, that is, a sequentialprocess of executing the image data conversion process in accordancewith the destination added to the transferred document when the documentis stored in the document management application, performing the loginto the document management application and storing the document in apath of the storage destination, is executed.

Next, in a step S53, the CPU 41 acts such that a parameter whichindicates whether or not the WEB server exists is returned frominformation of the WEB option managed by the document managementapplication as a return value from the document management applicationin the PC1 when the document storage process is executed. When the WEBserver does not exist, the CPU 41 acts to return the process to the stepS51, wherein the status of waiting for reception of the stored documentis kept again.

When the WEB server exists, the flow advances to a step S54, where theCPU 41 acquires a URL which is created by the WEB server, of the juststored document via the document management application. Further, theCPU 41 acquires the access authority to the just stored document forevery user from the document management application in a step S55.

Next, in a step S56, the CPU 41 compares a mail address of the table oflogin information of a user having the access authority to the documentwith a mail address included in the table of destination informationwith reference to the table of login information to the documentmanagement application shown in FIG. 4 and the table of destinationinformation shown in FIG. 5 and creates a list of the mail address ofthe user who transmits the URL. For example, as indicated by numeral 501shown in FIG. 5, a process, wherein the document transferred to adestination A is stored, and when the access authority to the documentexists on only the side of a user A, a mail address of a user C iswritten for the destination A, however only the address of the user A isincluded in the list of the mail address of the user who transmits theURL, is executed.

In a step S57, the CPU 41 adds the acquired URL to the previouslyprepared mail text and creates a mail in which the address in the listof the mail address is set to the transmission destination and then theformed mail is transmitted in a step S58. Thereafter, the CPU 41 acts toreturn the process again to the step S51, where a status of waiting forreception of the stored document is kept.

Another Embodiment

The following embodiments can be performed besides the above embodiment.

-   -   1) In the above embodiment, although the document management        application and the WEB option respectively operate on different        computers as shown in FIG. 1, those may operate on the same        computer.    -   2) In the above embodiment, although the document storage        application and the document management application respectively        operate on different computers as shown in FIG. 1, those may        operate on the same computer.    -   3) In the processing procedure shown in FIG. 6, when, in the        step S53, the WEB server does not exist, the CPU 41 acts to skip        the process to the step S55, and a mail not including the URL is        transmitted in the step S57. Thereby, that transmission may be        regarded as a notification of terminating the document storage.    -   4) As another situation, an apparatus for executing the above        process may be properly modified or combined with another        apparatus.    -   5) The present invention also includes a case where the program        codes of software for realizing the functions of the above        embodiment are supplied to an apparatus connected to the various        devices or a computer in a system so as to operate the various        devices to realize the functions of the above embodiment, and        the functions are realized by operating the various devices in        accordance with the programs stored in the computer (or CPU or        MPU) in the system or the apparatus.    -   6) In this case, the program codes themselves of the software        realize the functions of the above embodiment, and the program        codes themselves and the means for supplying the program codes        to the computer, for example, a storage medium storing such the        program codes constitute the present invention.    -   7) As the storage medium for storing the program codes, for        example, a floppy™ disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a        magnetooptical disk, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile        memory card, a ROM or the like can be used.    -   8) It is needless to say that such the program codes are        included in the embodiment of the present invention not only in        a case where the functions of the above embodiment are realized        by the execution of the program codes supplied to the computer,        but also in a case where the functions of the above embodiment        are realized by such program codes which cooperate with an OS        (operating system) functioning on the computer, another        application software or the like.    -   9) Further, it is needless to say that the present invention        includes a case where the supplied program codes are once stored        in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in        the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the        computer, then a CPU or the like provided in the function        expansion board or the function expansion unit executes all the        process or a part thereof according to the instructions of such        the program codes, thereby realizing the functions of the above        embodiment.    -   10) The same functions may be realized by using the software or        separately and properly using the hardware and the software.

Specific Effects Of Embodiments

In the present embodiment, since a user downloads only the necessarydocument after confirming the document instructed by the URL bytransferring only the URL of the stored document from the documentstorage application to the user, the load in a communication network canbe decreased. For example, in a case that the WEB option is not added ora WEB server is not yet activated, since a mail is not transmitted, theload in a communication network can be decreased. Otherwise, in thiscase, by transmitting a mail not including the URL, that transmissioncan be regarded as a notification of terminating the document storage.Further, an access control can be performed for the stored document bytransmitting the URL by the mail to only the user who can access to thestored document among users in the mail transmitting destinations set inthe destination information.

According to the above-explained embodiments, in a data storage system,an effect of suppressing the unnecessary delivering on a communicationnetwork is obtained for the stored document or image.

Further, in the data storage system, an effect of performing an accesscontrol to the stored document or image is obtained.

Although the above embodiments have been explained in order to showexamples of the present invention, the present invention can be modifiedbesides the above embodiments. As long as the modification is based onthe technical idea of the present invention mentioned within the scopeof the appended claims, the modification is included in a technicalfield of the present invention.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2003-411059 filed on Dec. 9, 2003, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein.

1. A data processing system comprising (a) a document transmissionapparatus capable of transmitting data, (b) a computer system includinga data management unit for storing and managing the data transmitted bysaid document transmission apparatus in a plurality of storagedestinations and a data storage unit for performing a process of causingstorage of the data transmitted from said document transmissionapparatus in said data management unit, and (c) an informationprocessing terminal to be used by a user, wherein said documenttransmission apparatus, said computer system, and said informationprocessing terminal are connected through a network, and wherein saiddata storage unit comprises: a holding unit that holds, in a memory ofsaid data storage unit, an identifier indicating a notificationdestination of the user to which a notification can be performed, so asto correspond to each of storage destinations of storing the data bysaid data management unit, before the data to be stored to the storagedestinations is transmitted from said document transmission apparatus tosaid computer system, a storage destination acquisition unit thatacquires storage destination information of the data stored by said datamanagement unit, from said data management unit when the datatransmitted by said document transmission apparatus is stored to one ofthe storage destinations corresponding to the acquired storagedestination information, and a notification unit that specifies, inresponse to the data from said document transmission apparatus beingstored to one of the storage destinations, a notification destinationcorresponding to the storage destination which is indicated by thestorage destination information acquired by said storage destinationacquisition unit by referring to the identifier held by said holdingunit, and to transmit, through the network to said informationprocessing terminal based on the specified notification destination, anotification to which the storage destination information acquired bysaid storage destination acquisition unit has been added, thenotification to be notified by said notification unit indicating thatthe data has been stored to the storage destination corresponding to theacquired storage destination information, wherein said holding unitholds in a table in said memory of said data storage unit, for each ofthe storage destinations, at least one said identifier indicating thenotification destination of the user to which a notification can beperformed, wherein when said holding unit holds, for a storagedestination of the storage destinations, a plurality of saididentifiers, said notification unit uses the table to obtain thenotification destination by selecting one of the plurality ofidentifiers.
 2. A data processing system according to claim 1, whereinsaid data storage unit further comprises a judgment unit that judgeswhether or not said data management unit can generate the storagedestination information, and wherein when it is judged by said judgmentunit that said data management unit can generate the storage destinationinformation, the storage destination information is acquired by saidstorage destination acquisition unit, and the acquired storagedestination information is notified by said notification unit.
 3. A dataprocessing system according to claim 1, wherein said data storage unitfurther comprises an access authority acquisition unit that acquiresfrom said data management unit an access authority of each user to thedata stored by said data management unit, and wherein the notificationis transmitted by said notification unit to the user who has the accessauthority acquired by said access authority acquisition unit and whoseidentifier corresponding to the storage destination of the data storedby said data management unit is held by said holding unit.
 4. A dataprocessing system according to claim 1, wherein said documenttransmission apparatus transmits to said data management unit the dataacquired by reading an image on an original.
 5. A data processing systemaccording to claim 1, wherein said document transmission apparatustransmits to said data management unit the data acquired by receptionfrom another apparatus.
 6. A data processing system according to claim1, wherein said computer system comprises a first computer which isequipped with said data management unit, and a second computer which isconnected to said first computer through the network and is equippedwith said data storage unit.
 7. A data storage method for a data storagesystem comprising a document transmission apparatus capable oftransmitting acquired data, a first computer for storing and managingdata, a second computer for performing a process of causing the firstcomputer to store the data transmitted from the document transmissionapparatus in a plurality of storage destinations, and a third computerto be used by a user, wherein the document transmission apparatus, thefirst computer, the second computer, and the third computer areconnected through a network, and wherein the second computer executes amethod comprising: a holding step of holding, in a memory of the secondcomputer, an identifier indicating a notification destination of theuser to which a notification can be performed, so as to correspond toeach of storage destinations of storing the data by the first computer,before the data to be stored to the storage destinations is transmittedfrom the document transmission apparatus to the second computer, astorage destination acquisition step of acquiring storage destinationinformation of the data stored by the first computer, from the firstcomputer when the data transmitted by the document transmissionapparatus is stored to one of the storage destinations corresponding tothe acquired storage destination information, and a notification step ofspecifying, in response to the data from the document transmissionapparatus being stored to one of the storage destinations, anotification destination corresponding to the storage destination whichis indicated by the storage destination information acquired in saidstorage destination acquisition step by referring to the identifier heldby said holding step, and transmitting, through the network to the thirdcomputer based on the specified notification destination, a notificationto which the storage destination information acquired in said storagedestination acquisition step has been added, the notification to benotified by said notification step indicating that the data has beenstored to the storage destination corresponding to the acquired storagedestination information, wherein said holding step holds in a table inthe memory, for each of the storage destinations, at least one saididentifier indicating the notification destination of the user to whicha notification can be performed, wherein when said holding step holds,for a storage destination of the storage destinations, a plurality ofsaid identifiers, said notification step uses the table to obtain thenotification destination by selecting one of the plurality ofidentifiers.
 8. A data storage method according to claim 7, wherein thesecond computer further executes a judgment step of judging whether ornot the first computer can generate the storage destination information,and wherein when it is judged in said judgment step that the firstcomputer can generate the storage destination information, the storagedestination information is acquired in said storage destinationacquisition step, and the acquired storage destination information isnotified in said notification step.
 9. A data storage method accordingto claim 7, wherein the second computer further executes an accessauthority acquisition step of acquiring from the first computer anaccess authority of each user to the data stored by the first computer,and wherein the notification is transmitted in said notification step tothe user who has the access authority acquired in said access authorityacquisition step and whose identifier corresponding to a storagedestination of the data stored by the first computer is held in thefirst computer.
 10. A data storage method for a data storage systemcomprising a document transmission apparatus capable of transmittingacquired data, a first computer for performing a data management processfor storing and managing data and a process for causing storage of thedata transmitted from the document transmission apparatus in a pluralityof storage destinations, and a second computer to be used by a user,wherein the document transmission apparatus, the first computer, and thesecond computer are connected through a network, said method comprising:a holding step of holding, in a memory of the first computer, anidentifier indicating a notification destination of the user to which anotification can be performed, so as to correspond to each of storagedestinations of storing the data by the first computer, before the datato be stored by to the storage destinations is transmitted from thedocument transmission apparatus to the first computer, a discriminationstep of discriminating storage destination information in case ofstoring the data transmitted from the document transmission apparatus tothe first computer when the data transmitted by the documenttransmission apparatus is stored to one of the storage destinationscorresponding to the acquired storage destination information; and anotification step of specifying, in response to the data from thedocument transmission apparatus being stored to one of the storagedestinations, a notification destination corresponding to the storagedestination discriminated in said discriminating step by referring tothe identifier held by said holding step is stored to the firstcomputer, and transmitting, to the second computer through the network,a notification to which the storage destination informationdiscriminated in said discrimination step has been added, thenotification to be notified by said notification step indicating thatthe data has been stored to the storage destination corresponding to theacquired storage destination information, wherein said holding stepholds in a table in the memory, for each of the storage destinations, atleast one said identifier indicating the notification destination of theuser to which a notification can be performed, wherein when said holdingstep holds, for a storage destination of the storage destinations, aplurality of said identifiers, said notification step uses the table toobtain the notification destination by selecting one of the plurality ofidentifiers.
 11. A program, which is stored in a storage medium andexecutable by a second computer, for achieving a data storage method fora data storage system comprising a document transmission apparatuscapable of transmitting acquired data, a first computer for storing andmanaging data, a second computer for performing a process of causing thefirst computer to store the data transmitted from the documenttransmission apparatus in a plurality of storage destinations, and athird computer to be used by a user, wherein the document transmissionapparatus, the first computer, the second computer, and the thirdcomputer are connected through a network, said method comprising: aholding step of holding, in a memory of the second computer, anidentifier indicating a notification destination of the user to which anotification can be performed, so as to correspond to each of storagedestinations of storing the data by the first computer, before the datato be stored to the storage destinations is transmitted from thedocument transmission apparatus to the second computer, a storagedestination acquisition step of acquiring storage destinationinformation of the data stored by the first computer, from the firstcomputer when the data transmitted by the document transmissionapparatus is stored to one of the storage destinations corresponding tothe acquired storage destination information; and a notification step ofspecifying, in response to the data from the document transmissionapparatus being stored to one of the storage destinations, anotification destination corresponding to the storage destination whichis indicated by the storage destination information acquired in saidstorage destination acquisition step by referring to the identifier heldby said holding step, and transmitting, through the network to the thirdcomputer based on the specified notification destination, a notificationto which the storage destination information acquired in said storagedestination acquisition step has been, the notification to be notifiedby said notification step indicating that the data has been stored tothe storage destination corresponding to the acquired storagedestination information, wherein said holding step holds in a table inthe memory, for each of the storage destinations, at least one saididentifier indicating the notification destination of the user to whicha notification can be performed, wherein when said holding step holds,for a storage destination of the storage destinations, a plurality ofsaid identifiers, said notification step uses the table to obtain thenotification destination by selecting one of the plurality ofidentifiers.
 12. A program, which is stored in a storage medium andexecutable by a first computer, for achieving a data storage method fora data storage system comprising a document transmission apparatuscapable of transmitting acquired data, a first computer of performing adata management process for storing and managing data and a process forcausing storage of the data transmitted from the document transmissionapparatus in a plurality of storage destinations, and a second computerto be used by a user, wherein the document transmission apparatus, thefirst computer, and the second computer are connected through a network,said method comprising: a holding step of holding, in a memory of thefirst computer, an identifier indicating a notification destination ofthe user to which a notification can be performed, so as to correspondto each of storage destinations of storing the data by the firstcomputer, before the data to be stored to the storage destinations istransmitted from the document transmission apparatus to the firstcomputer; a discrimination step of discriminating storage destinationinformation in case of storing the data transmitted from the documenttransmission apparatus to the first computer when the data transmittedby the document transmission apparatus is stored to one of the storagedestinations corresponding to the acquired storage destinationinformation; and a notification step of specifying, in response to thedata from the document transmission apparatus being stored to one of thestorage destinations, a notification destination corresponding to thestorage destination discriminated in said discriminating step byreferring to the identifier held by said holding step, and transmitting,to the second computer through the network, a notification to which thestorage destination information discriminated in said discriminationstep has been added, the notification to be notified by saidnotification step indicating that the data has been stored to thestorage destination corresponding to the acquired storage destinationinformation, wherein said holding step holds in a table in the memory,for each of the storage destinations, at least one said identifierindicating the notification destination of the user to which anotification can be performed, wherein when said holding step holds, fora storage destination of the storage destinations, a plurality of saididentifiers, said notification step uses the table to obtain thenotification destination by selecting one of the plurality ofidentifiers.
 13. A data processing system comprising (a) a documenttransmission apparatus capable of transmitting data, (b) a computersystem including a data management unit for storing and managing thedata transmitted by said document transmission apparatus in a pluralityof storage destinations and a data storage unit for performing a processof causing storage of the data transmitted from said documenttransmission apparatus in said data management unit, and (c) aninformation processing terminal to be used by a user, wherein saiddocument transmission apparatus, said computer system, and saidinformation processing terminal are connected through a network, andwherein said data storage unit comprises: a holding unit that holds, ina memory of said data storage unit, an identifier indicating anotification destination of the user to which a notification can beperformed, so as to correspond to each of storage destinations ofstoring the data by said data management unit, before the data to bestored to the storage destinations is transmitted from said documenttransmission apparatus to said computer system, a storage destinationacquisition unit that acquires storage destination information of thedata stored by said data management unit, from said data management unitwhen the data transmitted by said document transmission apparatus isstored to one of the storage destinations corresponding to the acquiredstorage destination information, and a notification unit that specifies,in response to the data from said document transmission apparatus beingstored to one of the storage destinations, a notification destinationcorresponding to the storage destination which is indicated by thestorage destination information acquired by said storage destinationacquisition unit by referring to the identifier held by said holdingunit, and to transmit, through the network to said informationprocessing terminal based on the specified notification destination, anotification to which the storage destination information acquired bysaid storage destination acquisition unit has been added, thenotification to be notified by said notification unit indicating thatthe data has been stored to the storage destination corresponding to theacquired storage destination information, wherein said holding unitholds in a table in said memory of said data storage unit, for each ofthe storage destinations, both (a) said identifier and (b) informationidentifying a protocol to be used when accessing the stored data.
 14. Adata storage method for a data storage system comprising a documenttransmission apparatus capable of transmitting acquired data, a firstcomputer for storing and managing data, a second computer for performinga process of causing the first computer to store the data transmittedfrom the document transmission apparatus in a plurality of storagedestinations, and a third computer to be used by a user, wherein thedocument transmission apparatus, the first computer, the secondcomputer, and the third computer are connected through a network, andwherein the second computer executes a method comprising: a holding stepof holding, in a memory of the second computer, an identifier indicatinga notification destination of the user to which a notification can beperformed, so as to correspond to each of storage destinations ofstoring the data by the first computer, before the data to be stored tothe storage destinations is transmitted from the document transmissionapparatus to the second computer, a storage destination acquisition stepof acquiring storage destination information of the data stored by thefirst computer, from the first computer when the data transmitted by thedocument transmission apparatus is stored to one of the storagedestinations corresponding to the acquired storage destinationinformation, and a notification step of specifying, in response to thedata from the document transmission apparatus being stored to one of thestorage destinations, a notification destination corresponding to thestorage destination which is indicated by the storage destinationinformation acquired in said storage destination acquisition step byreferring to the identifier held by said holding step, and transmitting,through the network to the third computer based on the specifiednotification destination, a notification to which the storagedestination information acquired in said storage destination acquisitionstep has been added, the notification to be notified by saidnotification step indicating that the data has been stored to thestorage destination corresponding to the acquired storage destinationinformation, wherein said holding step holds in a table in the memory,for each of the storage destinations, both (a) said identifier and (b)information identifying a protocol to be used when accessing the storeddata.
 15. A data storage method for a data storage system comprising adocument transmission apparatus capable of transmitting acquired data, afirst computer for performing a data management process for storing andmanaging data and a process for causing storage of the data transmittedfrom the document transmission apparatus in a plurality of storagedestinations and a second computer to be used by a user, wherein thedocument transmission apparatus, the first computer, and the secondcomputer are connected through a network, said method comprising: aholding step of holding, in a memory of the first computer, anidentifier indicating a notification destination of the user to which anotification can be performed, so as to correspond to each of storagedestinations of storing the data by the first computer, before the datato be stored by to the storage destinations is transmitted from thedocument transmission apparatus to the first computer, a discriminationstep of discriminating storage destination information in case ofstoring the data transmitted from the document transmission apparatus tothe first computer when the data transmitted by the documenttransmission apparatus is stored to one of the storage destinationscorresponding to the acquired storage destination information; and anotification step of specifying, in response to the data from thedocument transmission apparatus being stored to one of the storagedestinations, a notification destination corresponding to the storagedestination discriminated in said discriminating step by referring tothe identifier held by said holding step is stored to the firstcomputer, and transmitting, to the second computer through the network,a notification to which the storage destination informationdiscriminated in said discrimination step has been added, thenotification to be notified by said notification step indicating thatthe data has been stored to the storage destination corresponding to theacquired storage destination information, wherein said holding stepholds in a table in the memory, for each of the storage destinations,both (a) said identifier and (b) information identifying a protocol tobe used when accessing the stored data.
 16. A program, which is storedin a storage medium and executable by a second computer, for achieving adata storage method for a data storage system comprising a documenttransmission apparatus capable of transmitting acquired data, a firstcomputer for storing and managing data, a second computer for performinga process of causing the first computer to store the data transmittedfrom the document transmission apparatus in a plurality of storagedestinations, and a third computer to be used by a user, wherein thedocument transmission apparatus, the first computer, the secondcomputer, and the third computer are connected through a network, saidmethod comprising: a holding step of holding, in a memory of the secondcomputer, an identifier indicating a notification destination of theuser to which a notification can be performed, so as to correspond toeach of storage destinations of storing the data by the first computer,before the data to be stored to the storage destinations is transmittedfrom the document transmission apparatus to the second computer, astorage destination acquisition step of acquiring storage destinationinformation of the data stored by the first computer, from the firstcomputer when the data transmitted by the document transmissionapparatus is stored to one of the storage destinations corresponding tothe acquired storage destination information; and a notification step ofspecifying, in response to the data from the document transmissionapparatus being stored to one of the storage destinations, anotification destination corresponding to the storage destination whichis indicated by the storage destination information acquired in saidstorage destination acquisition step by referring to the identifier heldby said holding step, and transmitting, through the network to the thirdcomputer based on the specified notification destination, a notificationto which the storage destination information acquired in said storagedestination acquisition step has been, the notification to be notifiedby said notification step indicating that the data has been stored tothe storage destination corresponding to the acquired storagedestination information, wherein said holding step holds in a table inthe memory, for each of the storage destinations, both (a) saididentifier and (b) information identifying a protocol to be used whenaccessing the stored data.
 17. A program, which is stored in a storagemedium and executable by a first computer, for achieving a data storagemethod for a data storage system comprising a document transmissionapparatus capable of transmitting acquired data, a first computer ofperforming a data management process for storing and managing data and aprocess for causing storage of the data transmitted from the documenttransmission apparatus in a plurality of storage destinations and asecond computer to be used by a user, wherein the document transmissionapparatus, the first computer, and the second computer are connectedthrough a network, said method comprising: a holding step of holding, ina memory of the first computer, an identifier indicating a notificationdestination of the user to which a notification can be performed, so asto correspond to each of storage destinations of storing the data by thefirst computer, before the data to be stored to the storage destinationsis transmitted from the document transmission apparatus to the firstcomputer; a discrimination step of discriminating storage destinationinformation in case of storing the data transmitted from the documenttransmission apparatus to the first computer when the data transmittedby the document transmission apparatus is stored to one of the storagedestinations corresponding to the acquired storage destinationinformation; and a notification step of specifying, in response to thedata from the document transmission apparatus being stored to one of thestorage destinations, a notification destination corresponding to thestorage destination discriminated in said discriminating step byreferring to the identifier held by said holding step, and transmitting,to the second computer through the network, a notification to which thestorage destination information discriminated in said discriminationstep has been added, the notification to be notified by saidnotification step indicating that the data has been stored to thestorage destination corresponding to the acquired storage destinationinformation, wherein said holding step holds in a table in the memory,for each of the storage destinations, both (a) said identifier and (b)information identifying a protocol to be used when accessing the storeddata.